otherworldly

Out of This World: A Groovy History of Otherworldly Music

From the hauntingly beautiful to the cosmically chaotic, music has long explored the realms beyond our own. Whether it’s the celestial hum of ancient chants, the spectral wails of blues, or the interstellar voyages of electronic music, humans have always sought to capture the feeling of the otherworldly in sound.

Ancient Roots:

• Chants and Hymns: The very earliest forms of music were often intertwined with rituals and beliefs about the supernatural. Ancient civilizations used chanting and drumming to invoke spirits, appease deities, and even contact the dead.
• Folklore: From haunting ballads about fairies and mythical creatures to tales of witches and demons, folk music across cultures reflects a fascination with the otherworldly.

Blues and the Devil:

• The blues, with its raw emotionality and melancholic melodies, was often seen as music of the marginalized and the downtrodden. Some believe the “devil” references in blues lyrics were a way of expressing societal struggles, while others saw it as a literal pact for musical talent.
• Funny fact: The legend of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil at a crossroads has become an iconic image associated with blues, even though there’s no real evidence to support it.

The Rise of Psychedelic Rock:

• The 1960s saw the rise of psychedelic rock, where experimentation with drugs like LSD influenced both the music and its themes. Bands like Pink Floyd and The Doors explored themes of altered consciousness, astral travel, and the search for spiritual enlightenment.
• Funny fact: The band “The Doors” got its name from the book “The Doors of Perception” by Aldous Huxley, which details his experience with mescaline.

Cosmic Electronic Music:

• Electronic music, with its ability to create ethereal soundscapes and pulsating rhythms, has become a powerful tool for exploring otherworldly themes.
• Funny fact: The band “Kraftwerk” created an album entirely in German, which some consider to be an alien language, adding to the band’s mystique.

From Otherworldly to Otherworldly:

• Today, artists from various genres continue to experiment with themes of the supernatural, space, and alternative realities.
• Funny fact: The band “The Mars Volta” created a fictional universe known as “De-Los” that weaves through their lyrics and album artwork.

Music’s exploration of the otherworldly is a testament to humanity’s enduring fascination with the unknown. Whether it’s the primal energy of a shamanic chant or the futuristic soundscapes of electronic music, these soundscapes continue to inspire awe, wonder, and a desire to connect with something beyond ourselves.